A new report about the heavily rumored successor to the Nintendo Switch has suggested that the new console will have Joy-Con controllers that are connected magnetically.
The report comes from the Spanish site Vandal, with translation by Eurogamer, and says that the information comes from accessory manufacturers. Those same manufacturers previously provided accurate reports to Vandal about the Switch OLED prior to its reveal.
The report suggests that the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons will stick to the console through magnets, getting rid of the current sliding rail system that is used to lock them into place. This means that compatibility with current Joy-Con controllers will likely not be possible, though the report stated that the console will be compatible with the current Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers.
The report also states that the console will be larger than the Nintendo Switch, but smaller than a Steam Deck, which matches up with a previous report that it would have an eight-inch screen as opposed to the current Switch’s 6.2 inches.
Other reports have suggested that the console was planned to launch in Fall 2024 before being delayed to March 2025 so it would have a fuller software lineup and a greater number of consoles available at launch. This initial release date could explain why accessory manufacturers have access to the console’s details so early.
Nintendo’s 2024 is looking light on games, likely because it is saving its biggest titles for the launch of their next console. Currently, only the remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, and Endless Ocean Luminous are set to release through the end of the year, though we will likely see more this summer.
For now, all we can do is wait until Nintendo is ready to reveal the console in full. The Nintendo Switch was revealed in the October before the console’s March release, so based on that timeline we still have a few more months before we see anything official.